Old Hastings ward report (November 2016)

FLAG funding bid successful

Hastings Borough Council has been successful in its bid for £800,000 of funding for the Fisheries Local Action Group (FLAG). The money will help support projects around the fishing community, creating local jobs as well as investing in infrastructure that will help create a secure ongoing income stream. By making the fishing sector more sustainable it will help protect the inshore fishing fleet that has consistently fought the unfair fishing quotas allocated by the UK government. There also plans to fund educational projects as well as encouraging educational institutions to make more use of the assets around the Stade which include the museums, galleries and shops.

The last round of FLAG funding has already brought significant improvements to the area which included resurfacing the winch road (the road that runs between the net huts and the fishing beach) and restoration of a fishing boat, new tractors to help pull the boats up the beach and a fish smoker.

Croft Road overgrown trees

The trees along the top of Croft Road have become so overgrown that they are causing residents problems. The Council is obtaining quotes to have the encroaching hedge and treeline cut back significantly from the road. If the quote is acceptable, it is hoped the work will begin in November. It will mean that Croft Road will need to be closed whilst the work takes place, which is anticipated to be three to five days. As soon as I have more information I will be ensuring that local residents are notified so they can plan how to work around the road closure. But the result will mean less vegetation and leaves in the roads and gulleys, letting more daylight through so hopefully residents will think it is worth the inconvenience.

Barley Lane planning application

A controversial planning application has been submitted asking for outline permission to build nine houses on land to the south of Barley Lane. As a result of talking to local residents, Cllr James Bacon has called the application in so it will be decided by the planning committee rather than council officers. With the site history, it is hoped that the application will not get that far but we are aware of at least one petition against the application and numerous objections so far on the website. If you wish to comment (either in support or to object) on the application you can find it here.